Vacuum frame arrangement



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. T. KOPPE VACUUM FRAME ARRNGEMENT Original Filed March '7, 1933 nw a w April 9, 1935!.

INVENTOR Alexander I lppe @M m47 NM1 ATTORNEYS April 9, 1935.. A. T. KOPPE VACUUM FRAME ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 7, 1933 INVENTOR Alexander ZT Kappe Off/we Patented Apr. 9, 1935 1 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE Original application March 7, 1933, Serial. No. 659,911. Divided and this application June 13, 1934, Serial No. 730,418

6 Claims. (Cl. 95-76) My invention relates to a vacuum frame adapttained substantially horizontal, through an angle ed for use in a photo-composing machine, or of 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1 equivalent. whereupon the former upper and lower bushings In accordance with my invention, the usual I are readily registrable with the respective dowel A transparent plate which carries the positive or pins cf said main frame. 5

negative is supported by my novel vacuum frame Referring particularly to Fig. l, the vacuum in a highly advantageous and useful manner. Y frame V is shown as provided. with pairs of pas- Vari ous other objects, advantages and characsages 2' and 3, the former being in horizontal alineteristics of my invention will become apparent ment and the latter in vertical alinement. rl'he lov from the following detailed description taken in passages 2 are provided so that, with the vacuum 10 connection with the accompanying drawingsframe V in the position sho-wn in Fig. l, a mem- This. application is a division of my pending ber may be passed through each passage 2 and application Serial No. 659,911., filed March '7, 1933. then threaded into a part carried by the aforeg For an understanding of my invention and for said main frame of the photo-composing ma- 15, an illustration of one of the forms thereof, referchine. The passages 3 are utilized when the vacl5 ence is to be had to the accompanying drawings, uurn frame V is in the position described above in which: after it has been turned through an angle of 90 Figure 1 is a plan view of a vacuum frame as.- degrees from the position shown in Fig. l. When sembly; in this position, a member may be passed through v Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional vview each passage 3 and threaded into the aforesaid 20 taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l? looking in the di- Dalt O the main frame. ThS arrangement iS rection of the arrows; provided so that the vacuum frame V may be se- Fig. 3 is a plan View of a chase assembly; Cul'ely retained in position interiorly of the main Fig.. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view takfreine Of the phO'CO-COIHDOSng mhne When the 25. en on the une 4 5 0f Fg 3 looking in the direclatter is moved from horizontal to vertical posi- 25 tion of the arrows; tion all as more particularly pointed out in my Fig.. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view takafeesad'pending aDIJlCaOn. en on the line E- of Fig. 1 looking in the direc- Referring Particularly 'G0 Fig l, e Den Of mein tion of the arrows; and bers 4 are shown as slidably mounted to a limited ig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view takextent 0n the lveSDeCVe nDDel and 10V/"e1" See- 30 en on the line 6 5 of Fig. 1 looking in the directiens 0f the Vacuum frame V. Each of these tion of the arrows. members 4 is provided with a pair oi vertically The vacuum frame assembly hereinafter illus- @lined passages 4a' and 4b.. the paSSegeS "5a being trated and described is adapted for use with any adapted. for alinernent with the Del-Seegee dein-eil suitable photo-composing machine such, for eX- by JChe leSpective bushings i at the top and bot- 35 ample, as illustrated and describedin my aforetOm Of Said Vacuum frame' V, and the DeSSegeS 5b said pending application. being adaptedrfor alinement with the respective For a detailed description of such vacuum frame passages 3. In addition to the function just deassembly, reference is to be had to the drawings scribed, the members 4 are movable to the posi- 40 wherein V represents a vacuum frame adapted tion shown in Fig. 1 wherein they cover the pas- 40 for use as described above. This vacuum frame sages of the respective bushings and the pasis of open rectangular configuration and midway sages 3. along each side thereoi is provided with an aper- At `the respective sides of the vacuum trarne V, ture in which a bushing i is received, Figs. l and members 5 are mounted thereon for limited slidl 5. The bushings i are so positioned that said able movement the same as the aforesaid mern- 45 vacuum frame V may be seated in the main frame bers d. Each member 5 is provided with a pascf the photo-composing machine described in my sage 5a which, as shown, may be alined with a aforesaid pending application with the dowel pins passage 2, the members 5, however, being slidof sai-d main frame received, respectively, by the able to such position that the respective pairs oi v bushings I on opposite sides of the vacuum frame. passages 5a, 2 are out of alinement with each 50 In accordance TJvith the invention, the pairs oi other. bushings i on opposite respective sidesoi the vac- The slidable members 4 and 5 are constructed num frame V are symmetrically related so that from material suitably resistant to the passage anoperator may lift said vacuum frame V from of light. They function in a manner hereinafter the aforesaid main frameand turn it, while mainto be described' to prevent passage of light through 55 with a stop member I 9.

those passages in the vacuum frame V which are not in use for aparticular position of that frame. This feature of the invention will be subsequently described.

Upstanding from Vthe Vacuum frame V, when the latter is positioned horizontally, are a pair of sealing strips or members 6, 6a which preferably are integrally formed with a base section Eb resting upon said vacuum frame V.v As illustrated, the sealing members and 6a are of generally rectangular configuration, the latter being disposed within the former, andthe members S, Ga and 6b are formed, preferably; from one intcgral piece of suitable exible material such as rubber, or equivalent resilient material. e

The aforesaid vacuum channel'arrangement, which is formed from the sealing members 6, Sa

. and the base section 6b, is maintained in position on the vacuum frame V by metallic plates 'l which overlie the base section 6b and are secured in position by screws 8 which pass through said plates 'I and the base section 6b. Y

Secured to the vacuum frame V and projecting upwardly at each corner of the aforesaid vacuum channel arrangement are the respective stop members 9, each of which Vextends through a plate the underlying base section 6b and is fastened to the vacuum frame V.

Disposed adjacent each of the stop members-9 and in each ofthe four corners formed by the outer sealing member is a latch plate I@ having a shank II loosely mounted in a bushing l2 upstanding from the Vacuum frame V, said bushing I2 extending through the base section 9b and the overlying plate 'I. Below the vacuum frame V, the shank II carries a coiled spring I3 maintained under compression between the bottom of the bushing I2 anda disk I Il carried by said shank II.

In accordance with the usual practice, there is utilized a glass plate I5, or equivalent, which has suitably associated therewith any desired positive or negative, a representation of which is to be formed on the light-sensitive surfaceV of the photo-composing machine, such positive or negative being hereinafter generically referred to in this specification and in theclairns as a negative. With the negative on the glass plate I5, the. latter is disposed within an open rectangular frame or chase IE which, ,in accordance with my invention, is of novel construction. Y As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the chase` IB, at each of its'corners, is provided with a Xed support I l upon which the respective corners of the glass plate I5 are adapted to rest. A latch I8 is pivoted at each chase corner and each latch may be positioned as shown in Fig. 1 in engagement K Accordingly, aftervthe glass plate I5 has been suitably located within the chase i5 while resting upon the corner supports I'I, the latches i'may be moved into engagement with the opposite corner surfaces of said plate I5 whereby the latter is securely retained in the chase.

, The chase I6 carries a plurality of similar dev-` vices or units for adjusting the position of the plate I5 interiorly thereof.V As herein shown, each of these devices or units comprises a member 20 suitably secured in an opening in the chase I6, Fig. 4. The member 2D forms a support for a cam plate 2! mounted for oscillatory movement on a pin 22 journalled in said member 2U. The cam plate 2l coacts with a member 23 slidably mounted in a cut-away portionLof` the chase I6,

said member 23 having a slot connection with a pin 24 carried by the chase. The member 23 has secured thereto a member 25 of leather, or equivalent, Which is adapted to coact with the edge of the glass plate I5.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, a pair of the above described adjusting units is disposed in suitable the chase i5, and a single adjustingunit is disposed vin each side of said chase I midway between the ends thereof.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, each side of the chase I6 is provided with a passage which is defined by a bushing 26.l These bushings should be symmetrically located in the sense that the bushing 26 at the left of Fig. 3 is the same distance below Vthe center line of the chase as the'bushing 26 at the right of said Fig. 3 is above said center line.

In order to locate the glass plate I 5 within the 'chase I6, the latter is placed upon a suitable registering device, not shown, which preferably has upwardly projecting dowel pins to bereceived in the respective bushings 26. With thechase I6 thus positioned on the registering device, the ecrner supports I'I are disposed downwardly, and the glass plate I5 is laid upon these supports with the negative facing downwardly. The carn plates 2| of the various adjusting units are now manipulated, as by operation of a socket wrench received in the plate sockets 2 Ia, to adjust the position of said plate I 5 within the chase for the purpose of properly locating the negative with respect to the registering device. When this has been completed, the latches I8 may be positioned over the respective glass plate corners whereby said glass plate is positively locked in the chase in its proper located position.

The glass plate and the chase now form a unit which may be removed from the registering de*- vice and positioned, with the negative facing upwardly, on the Vacuum frame V while the latter isdsposed in horizontal position. As indicated in Fig. 1, the vacuum frame V has a pair of dowel pins 2l projecting upwardly from opposite sides thereof,` these dowel pins being seated in said frame and Vextending through openings provided in the base section 5b o1" the vacuum channel arrangement and the overlying plate 'I.V The dowel pins 2'I are so positioned on the vacuum frame V that the bushings 26 of the chase i5 are registrable, respectively, therewith when said chase is properly placed on the vacuum frame. Byvirtue of the arrangement just described, thechase may be positioned in predetermined relation on said Vacuum frame. Further, aswill be obvious from a consideration of Fig.v 1, the chase, after release of the latches I8', may be lifted from the vacuum frame V, while the latter is horizontally disposed, and turned through an angle of lSOdegrees while maintained substantially horizontal. Thereupon, the chase may be redeposited in reverse position on the vacuum frame, this result being obtainable due to the fact that the spacing between theV bushings 26 and the dowel pins 2l isselected with this end in view.

It will be noted that the corners of the chase I6 are angled as indicated and that these corner sec'- tions are cut away to form the respectiveledge sections Ia. It is with these ledge sections that the hereinbefore described latch plates Ill are coactable as shown in Figs. l and 2 for holding the chase firmly in position on the vacuum frame.

As shown in Fig. 2, the chase I6 is held, by the Y spaced relation in the top and bottom sections of latch members I0, in engagement with the hereinbefore described stop members 9, the glass plate I being held in engagement with the sealing member 6a. The force exerted by the latch members I0, under the influence of the springs I6, is considerable and, therefore, the sealing member 5a is compressed as indicated whereby an airtight seal is formed between said sealing member 5a and the glass plate I5.

As clearly set forth in my aforesaid copending application, the main frame of the photo-composing machine is brought to such position that the glass plate I5 is located directly opposite the selected area of the light-sensitive plate which is to receive the first print. Thereupon, by relative movement effected between said light-sensitive surface and the vacuum frame assembly, the outer sealing strip 6 is rst brought into engagement with said light-sensitive plate. When the parts last named are thus directly engaged with the light-sensitive plate, they take a position wherein the outer sealing strip 6 is under some degree of compression'and forms a sealed joint with said light-sensitive plate around the chase I6.

As clearly appears, the vacuum channel arrangement comprising the integral parts 6, 6a and 6b form a sealed chamber closed to the atmosphere by the sealing strip 6 which engages the light-sensitive plate and the sealing strip 6a which engages the glass plate I5. A passage 23 opens into this chamber and extends through one of the members l, the base section 6b of the vacuum channel arrangement, Aand the adjacent section of the vacuum frame V, said passage 28 communicating with the bore of a cup member 29 secured tc said vacuum frame V. Adapted for detachable sealed connection with the cup member 29 is a hose connection, not shown, which leads to any suitable vacuum pump arrangement.

Accordingly, by way of said hose connection, the air may be exhausted from the aforesaid sealed chamber to a desired degree. When this has been accomplished, the glass plate I5 and the adjacent surface of the light-sensitive plate are held in intimate Contact with each other by the action of atmospheric pressure.

After completion of the operations described above, the printing operation may be proceeded with in the manner clearly set forth in my aforesaid pending application. After completion of the printing operation, the aforesaid sealed chamber may be opened to the atmosphere and the glass plate positioned in the next printing position whereupon the operations generally described above may be repeated.

When the vacuum frame V is positioned in the main frame as indicated in Fig. 1, the dowel pins of said main frame are received, respectively, in the bushings I at opposite sides of said vacuum frame. Under such circumstances, the bushings I at the top and bottom of the vacuum frame are not in use and, therefore, the plates 4 are positioned as shown in said Fig. 1 to prevent the passage of light through the last named bushings I and the adjacent passages 3. Otherwise, light would pass through these openings and produce light spots on the light-sensitive plate of the photo-composing machine. When the vacuum frame is to be positioned on the main frame of the photo-composing machine in its alternate position, i. e., after having been turned through an angle of 90 degrees, it will be obvious that the plates 4 are moved to such position that the upper and lower bushings I and passages 3 are free and unobstructed. It will be understood that, in said alternate position of the vacuum frame, the plates 5 have a function corresponding with that above described with respect to the plates 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the vacuum frame V, at each of its corners, carries a pair of brackets 30 and 36a. As set forth more in detail in my aforesaid pending application, the brackets 30 are adapted to have the ends of suitable light-shielding curtains, not shown, secured thereto when the vacuum frame V is positioned as shown in Fig. 1. When the vacuum frame V is positioned in its alternate position, i. e., after having been moved through an angle of 90 degrees, the brackets 88a are utilized for curtain-attaching purposes.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In vacuum frame apparatus, an open reotangular frame, an open rectangular structure of flexible material supported by and defining a channel on said frame, a chase in said channel, and a negative-bearing plate carried b-y said chase.

2. In vacuum frame apparatus, an open rectangular frame, an open rectangular structure of flexible material supported by and defining a channel on said frame, a chase in said channel, and a negative-bearing plate carried by said chase, said plate resting upon the inner edge of said channel.

3. In vacuum frame apparatus, an open rectangular frame, an open rectangular structure of flexible material supported by and defining a channel on said frame, a chase in said channel, and a negative-bearing plate carried by said chase, said plate resting upon the inner edge of said channel and the outer edge of said channel projecting above the plane of said plate.

4. In vacuum frame apparatus, an open rectangular frame, an open rectangular structure of flexible material supported by and defining a channel on said frame, a chase in said channel, a negative-bearing plate carried by said chase, said plate resting upon the inner edge of said channel, and means for locking said chase in said channel whereby the inner channel edge forms an air-tight seal with said plate.

5. In vacuum frame apparatus, an open rectangular frame having a positioning aperture extending therethrough on each of the four sides thereof, and light shields slidable on said frame for closing a desired pair of said apertures.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chase, a negative-bearing plate in said chase, and means for adjusting the position of said plate with respect to said chase, said means comprising cam mechanisms carried b-y the respective sides of said chase.

ALEXANDER T. KOPPE. 

